Taylor cuts a different track

Local mountain bikers got some after-dark thrills at Wilson Bay during an organised night ride last Wednesday.
Queenstown ski racer Taylor Rapley (right) and Wakatipu New World owner John Thompson (far right) were among about 100 keen bikers hitting the Seven Mile tracks for the inaugural Shortest Day night ride. The riders, who meet for weekly night jaunts throughout the Wakatipu, turned up for a few hours’ biking in the dark, followed by a barbeque and wine courtesy of New World and Chard Farm. Organiser Beau Rapley says the night was a “great success”, and managed to raise $200 for Queenstown Mountain Bike Club. “The Seven Mile tracks resembled something out of Peter Pan with riders’ lights scorching through the tracks amongst the trees,” he says. “We now hope to make this an annual event, if not a night ride for every season.”